Data sheet: C1.

4
Availability and properties
Chromadek® for Exterior Applications
Pre-painted hot-dip galvanised steel sheet

Introduction
®
CHROMADEK is ArcelorMittal South Africa’s trade name for a range of colour coated sheet products. It
is produced by coating sheet on a sophisticated coil coating line, where steel substrate surfaces are
thoroughly chemically cleaned before a primer coat is applied to either one or both sides of the sheet.
After elevated temperature curing, the top coat is applied, to either one or both sides and again cured in
the gas fired furnaces.

This coil coating process allows accurate control, in a controlled factory environment, of the important
parameters for application of paint coatings, such as cleaning, pre-treatment, paint application and curing
conditions.
®
The CHROMADEK range of products has been developed for a range of different end uses:

Exterior applications such as roofing, cladding, signboards and garage doors, for less corrosive as
well as marine environments (covered in this Data Sheet)

Interior applications such as cool room panels, ceiling strips and light fittings (Data Sheet C1.6)

Domestic appliances, such as fridges, freezers, geyser wrappers and air conditioning units.
(Data Sheet C1.7),

Other coated products processed on ArcelorMittal South Africa’s colour coating unit includes
® ®
CHROMAPREP (See Data Sheet C1.8) and TEXTRADEK (See Data Sheet C1.6)
®
General description of CHROMADEK for Exterior Applications
®
Over and above its aesthetic attributes, CHROMADEK paint coatings are designed to provide superior
corrosion protection under conditions where the performance of unpainted galvanised sheeting may
prove inadequate. Furthermore, the coatings exhibit excellent formability and elasticity to facilitate roll
profiling and bending operations without damage to the paint coating.

Chromadek is applied onto a galvanised coated substrate, which has been produced by the addition of
Antimony and Aluminium to the molten zinc in the bath, to improve the formability and adherence of the
zinc coating.

Excellent paint adhesion is achieved and corrosion resistance enhanced by careful preparation of the
steel surface prior to paint application. Rigid quality control testing is carried out on each coil to ensure
conformance to specification.

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016) 889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@arcelormittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal Steel Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 1 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and147
 ®
The atmospheric conditions to which the CHROMADEK sheeting will be subjected, will determine which
of the following paint systems should be specified:
®
Standard CHROMADEK is intended for use under rural, mildly chemically polluted or moderate marine
conditions, and is composed of Z200 hot-dip galvanised substrate pre-primed with an epoxy/chrome free
primer (dry film thickness (DFT) of 4-6 microns) and finished with a final paint coat (DFT 18-22 microns)
on the top surface. A single backing coat (DFT 8 microns) is normally applied to the reverse side of the
sheet.
®
CHROMADEK PLUS is intended for heavy industrial or marine conditions, and is composed of Z275
hot-dip galvanised substrate, pre-primed with a primer with DFT of 20-25 microns (4-times thicker than
®
the standard CHROMADEK primer coat) and finished with a final coat (DFT 18-22 microns) on the top
surface, giving a total coating thickness of 38-47 microns.
®
The bottom surface can either be coated with the CHROMADEK top surface paint system i.e. 4-6
®
microns primer and 18-22 micron topcoat, or the CHROMADEK PLUS top surface paint system.

Paint System
®
CHROMADEK is produced in a range of 14 standard colours, which were selected after consultation
with both Specifiers and Architects. Special pigments are used to ensure that the paint will withstand
extended outdoor exposure under the harsh S.A. conditions (high UV-radiation).

The availability of other colours for large projects is subject to enquiry.

Standard Colours

Table 1 Standard Colours

Name Colour % Gloss at 60°° ArcelorMittal Steel SA

(±
± 5 %) Reference number
Fish Eagle White White 30 N14128
White Lion White 30 N15010
Gemsbok Sand Dark Beige 30 N15366
Sandstone Beige Beige 30 N15365
Kalahari Red Red-Brown 30 N06541
Buffalo Brown Brown 30 N09412
Traffic Green Green 30 N03002
Aloe Green Light Green 30 N03283
Umhlanga Wave Turquoise 30 N02103
Azure Blue Blue 30 N01109
Kingfisher Blue Light Blue 30 N01029
Dove Grey Light Grey 30 N13639
Dark Dolphin Dark Grey 30 N13030
Charcoal Grey Dark Grey 30 N13012

Note:
®
For an indication of the colours, refer to Data Sheet: CHROMADEK , Standard Colours (Data Sheet
C1.9).

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 2 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147
Table 2 Paint System Properties

Property Test conditions Method Typical values

Chromadek Chromadek
Plus
Resistance to UV QUV-A ASTM G154 After 2000 hrs: After 2000 hrs:
Weathering ISO 7724/1/2/3 ∆E < 2 ∆E < 2
(Colour Change)
Resistance to UV QUV-A ASTM G154 After 2000 hrs: After 2000 hrs:
Weathering ASTM D659-04 Rating No 8 Rating No 8
(Chalking)
Resistance to Salt Spray ISO 7253 After 500 hrs: After 1000 hrs:
corrosion:
- Edge creep ASTM D1654 5mm max 5mm max
- Blister size ISO 4628/2 2-S2 2-S2
Flexibility: ASTM D4145 2T 2T
T-bend test No adhesion loss No adhesion loss
7T 7T
No Cracks No Cracks
Flexibility: ISO 6272 No adhesion loss No adhesion loss
Reverse impact
Pencil Hardness ASTM D3363 F–H F–H
Scratch Hardness ISO 1518 25 – 40 N 25 – 40 N
Dry Film ISO 2808, 5B 23 µm minimum 38 µm minimum
Thickness inclusive of inclusive of
primer primer
Specular Gloss at At time of coating
ISO 2813 25 – 35% 25 – 35%
60°

Mechanical properties
®
The substrate used for CHROMADEK is produced to any of the galvanised steel specifications listed in
Table 1 of Data Sheet: Galvanised: Availability and Properties (Data Sheet C1.1)

Dimensions

The nominal thickness includes the zinc coating, but excludes the paint system.

Table 3 Standard Dimensions

Nominal Thickness (mm) Nominal Width (mm)

0.47 925, 1225
0.50 925, 1225
0.53 925, 1225
0.58 925, 1225
0.80 925, 1225

Tolerances

Shape and dimensions

Tolerances on shape and dimensions are given in the data sheet: Galvanised Sheet Tolerances (File
Ref Data Sheet C1.2)

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 3 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147
 ®
CHROMADEK COATING SYSTEMS

®
Figure 1 CHROMADEK

®
Standard Chromadek (20 ± 2 microns) Primer (4-6 microns)
Top side
Pre-treatment
Zinc coating (14 microns)
(Conversion layer)

Steel Substrate

Pre-treatment Reverse side

Zinc coating (14 microns) (Conversion layer)
Single backing coat(8 microns)

®
Figure 2 CHROMADEK PLUS

Standard Chromadek® (20 + - 2 microns)

Primer (20-25 microns)
Top side
Pre-treatment
Zinc coating (19 microns)
(Conversion layer)

Steel Substrate

Pre-treatment Reverse side

Zinc coating (19 microns) (Conversion layer)
Primer (4-6 microns)
Standard Chromadek® (20 + - 2 microns) or primer (20-25 microns)

Design considerations

In areas with frequent rain followed by long periods of relatively high humidity, the following design
factors must be addressed:

Overlapping of sheeting (end laps) is to be avoided if possible, as waterproofing of lapped areas is

seldom successful in the long term. The use of full-length sheets is recommended.

The slope of the roof shall be such that water can drain freely from it without forming ponds. The
minimum recommended slope for Box Ribbed or S-Rib sheeting is 5°.

In a marine climate, certain areas for example sheltered areas on the undersides of roof overhangs,
canopy type roofs and loading bay canopies could result in accelerated corrosion from the under side.
Sea salts or aggressive contaminants tend to accumulate on these surfaces, as they are not
periodically washed down by rain. Designers should avoid this type of design or allow for additional
protection in coastal or highly polluted industrial areas by means of light ceilings or specifying a full
paint coat on the reverse side of the sheet.

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 4 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147
 ®

CHROMADEK is recommended for applications in light industrial and marine environments greater
than 5 Km from calm marine conditions whereas within the area between 1 - 5 Km from the salt spray
® ® ®
zone CHROMADEK PLUS must be used. Both CHROMADEK and CHROMADEK PLUS used
within 1 Km from either Marine or Heavy Industrial environments are excluded from any warranty by
ArcelorMittal Steel South Africa Limited.

Expected Performance

Paint fading is the natural phenomenon associated with the gradual decrease of colour intensity resulting
from the exposure of coloured paints to natural weathering. When evaluating the colour performance of
®
CHROMADEK reference should be made to the graph below.

Figure 3 Expected Exterior Colour Retention Performance under normal Atmospheric Conditions

12

10

8
Colour Change (DE)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Years Exposure

Packaging, transportation and handling

®
CHROMADEK is a finished material with decorative coatings and good general abrasion resistance, but
must be handled with care to prevent damage to the coatings. During de-coiling the coil should not be
allowed to unwind freely, as slippage between interleaving surfaces could lead to paint pick-off in these
areas. No paint pick-off complaints will be entertained if tension control is not kept with a pinch roll
before the strapping is cut during de-coiling. De-coiling tension must be lower than the coiling tension.

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 5 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147
The thinner backing coats are more prone to scuffing damage (paint pick-off) and orders should specify
the correct packaging in line with the mode of transport and the final destination. To avoid pressure
marks coils should not be stacked, and should be dispatched ‘eye-to-the-sky’ (with the coil axis vertical)
to prevent the occurrence of surface defects during transportation.

Forming

1. Roll-forming

Roll-forming rather than press braking is recommended for the forming of sections and components from
pre-painted steel sheet, since there is less chance of damaging the paint coating. A multitude of
sections can be roll-formed provided the necessary adjustments are made in roll clearances.

Bend diameters should also be larger than the bend to which the material was subjected to during
Quality Control Testing.

2. Lubricants
®
The organic coatings used for CHROMADEK usually act as excellent dry film lubricants. Where
lubricants are needed, the water-soluble types are recommended. If emulsified compounds are used, it
is important that they are completely removed immediately after roll-forming, in order to prevent staining
of the paint coating.

Touch up and Site Practice

Air-drying touch-up paints, such as water based acrylic roof paints, are recommended for over-painting.
However, the ultraviolet resistance of air-drying touch up paints is generally lower than the oven-cured
®
CHROMADEK finishes. Accordingly, touching-up of scratches should be undertaken with a thin
paintbrush to minimise unnecessary over-painting. Slight scratches which may occur during erection or
handling can generally be left as is, because they will not be visible from a distance, while the galvanised
substrate will offer adequate protection against corrosion.

Anyone walking on roofing panels must wear soft-soled rubber shoes. Such traffic across the roof must
be restricted to a minimum. It is recommended that soft material of some form be used to protect the
paint coat temporarily in areas of traffic.
®
Abrasive cutting or trimming of CHROMADEK sheeting on top of roofs should be avoided. However, if
unavoidable, the iron particles must be removed from the roof surface by means of a bristle brush or
broom, as it is not easily washed down by rain. If left on the roof the iron particles will start to rust,
®
tarnishing the CHROMADEK paint surface.

The recommended method of cutting sheets on site is by using a sheet nibbler, which gives a clean edge
and does not damage either the sheet or paint coating. It is imperative that all steel particles (swarf) and
other debris are removed as roof erection proceeds, since they can cause damage, discoloration or
corrosion. A thorough building clean up after completion of construction should be conducted to remove
all loose particles, objects and dust from walls and roofs.

Maintenance

Rainfall alone is often sufficient to keep exterior surfaces looking clean and bright. However to achieve
maximum life from the CHROMADEK product, it is important that accumulations of dirt and debris which
are not removed by normal rain washing are removed by regular cleaning every six months.
Washing may be carried out with a hose and soft bristle brush, using fresh water. In areas where heavy
dust deposits dull the surface, a solution of fresh water and good quality household detergent or
propriety cleaner may be applied to ensure thorough cleaning, followed by rinsing with clean water to
eliminate the possibility of residue.

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 6 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147
Compatibility
®
Most materials used in contact with traditional galvanised steel can be safely used with CHROMADEK .
®
However, run-off water from COR-TEN , lead or copper products may cause staining and should not be
allowed to come into contact with the painted surface.

Mixing of Material

Where different brands of prepainted material are used on the same building, differences in colour,
gloss, and weathering performance may appear obvious in a short period of time. This is due to the
different formulations used by the various manufacturers.
ArcelorMittal will not accept liability for problems caused by the mixing of brands.
By the very nature of colour, some slight variation can occur between coils produced at different times
through the paint line therefore all profiles for a single elevation should be manufactured from the same
production batch. Building contractors and erectors should aim to ensure that this practice is followed
during the installation of the roof sheets.

Edge protection
®
Generally cut edges on CHROMADEK sheets do not present a corrosion problem, even in coastal
areas, as the zinc of the galvanised substrate will cathodically protect the exposed edge. Small traces of
white deposits on cut edges should therefore not be a reason for concern.

Warranty

ArcelorMittal South Africa guarantees the prime quality of the product and that the material will have a
functional life prior to weathering in the natural elements of a minimum of 10 years from the date of
supply. However, ArcelorMittal South Africa cannot accept liability for scratches or other damage to the
material sustained during and after profiling, transport to or storage at the building site or after erection.
For warranty purposes ArcelorMittal South Africa may be approached for a:

Provisional warranty (warranty of intent) during the tendering stage; and

Warranty of the material on the building after erection.

Please note that no warranty is deemed to be valid unless ArcelorMittal Steel South Africa Limited has
formally issued a warranty after specific request by the purchaser.

Quality Assurance

A quality assurance system that complies with SANS 9001 is in operation throughout the manufacturing
process, and the galvanised substrate used for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s CHROMADEK products
conform to the requirements of both SABS ISO 3575 and SABS ISO 4998.

Branding

All CHROMADEK material is marked with the ArcelorMittal logo, on the reverse side at intervals of
approximately 900 mm, parallel to the length of the strip and 140 mm in from the edge.

Supply conditions
®
CHROMADEK is supplied in terms of Price Lists 145 and 147 with ArcelorMittal South Africa’s General
Conditions of Sale.

October 2012
For further information, contact:
ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited, PO Box 2, Vanderbijlpark 1900. Tel No (016)889 4081, Fax (016) 889-2022
e-mail address: chromadek@mittal.com

Care has been taken to ensure that the information in this data sheet is accurate. Arcelor Mittal South Africa Limited does not, however,
assume responsibility for any inaccuracies or misinterpretations of this data. We are continuously engaged in product development and
revised data sheets will be issued from time to time. Please ensure that you have the most recent issue. Effective date: October 2012
Page 7 of 7 File reference: C 1.4 Price list reference 145 and 147